Unequal Contenders in the Spiritual War
God and Satan are not two equal powers in a dualistic battle between good and evil. Our Lord reigns as the supreme Creator and King of the universe. His sovereign will is being accomplished in the world whether or not His creatures accept Him as Lord. [See The Nature and Tactics of Satan]
The relationship between God and His creation:
| God | People | Satan |
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CREATOR: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." Col 1:16 |
"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works.... My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret.... Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed." Psalm 139:14-15 |
An angel created by God to serve and minister, but he chose the foolish way of pride, rebellion, deception and ruthless power: "...the whole world is under the sway of the evil one." 1 John 5:19 |
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PROVIDER: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19 |
"God said, 'See, I have given you every herb...." Gen 1:29 "I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet." Deut 29:5 |
Assigned limited power - yet ultimately accountable to God. "And the Lord said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." Job 1:12
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LORD: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Psalm 18:2 |
Rejected God's authority: "...when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took...ate... gave to her husband... and he ate." Gen 3:6 "...there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Rom 3:22-23 |
Deceives people through lies, threats, deception, twisted truths and counterfeit promises: "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." 2 Cor 11:14 "...the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26 |
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JUDGE: "For the Lord will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants." Ps 135:14 |
Faced spiritual death and bondage as a consequence for sin. Gen 2:17, Rom 5:12.
"The wages of sin is death...." Rom 6:23 |
Charged with rebellion. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven.... Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol." Isaiah 14:12-15 |
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SAVIOR: "...we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." John 4:42 "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 |
"...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 6:23 "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:11-12 "...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:15 |
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Pet 5:8-9 In God's plan, even the worst evil become steps to His good: "...the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot... to betray Him...." John 13:2 |
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SHEPHERD: "I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11 |
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23 "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Cor 10:13 |
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
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VICTOR: "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33 |
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39 |
"...ought not this woman... whom Satan has bound...for eighteen years, be loosed...?" Luke 13:16 "... healing all who were oppressed by the devil," Acts 10:38 "...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7 |
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KING: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Rev 22:13 |
"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thess 4:17 |
"...an angel coming down from heaven.... laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him..." "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire..." Rev 20:1, 10 |
When God's Old Testament servant Job dares to question His sovereign ways, the mighty Creator of the universe responds with some questions of His own:
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding....
By what way is light diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth? ...
"Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one...
"Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’? ...
"Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions...." [Job 38]
God's challenging questions go on and on... questions that only our all wise King would be able to answer. They served their purpose. God intended to restore all that He allowed Satan to steal from his faithful servant, Job. But first He chose to give Job an important lesson. He would leave no doubt as to who made the universe, ordered the cycles of water and vapor, ruled the winds and cared for the animals.
The eternal omnipotent God who knows all things and declared "the end from the beginning" has no equals. The fallen angel who has so arrogantly opposed his Maker has only limited time left to wield his finite weapons. He knows well -- and we would be wise to remember -- that our God, the source of all wisdom and power, is infinitely greater!
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ... For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory forever." Romans 11:33-36
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